Folding table



Oct. 1, 1963 G. A. PATRIE 3,105,448

FOLDING TABLE Filed June 4, 1962 ATTORNEYS.

Edd-5,44%

Fatented Get. 1, 1953 3,105,448 FDLDING TABLE Geofirey A. Patric, Fairport of Charlevoix, Charlevoix, Mich. Filed lune 4, 1962, Ser. No. 199,334 '7 Claims. (Cl. 168-42) This invention relates to a folding table particularly adapted for boats, yachts and the like where storage space is at a premium.

One object of the invention is to provide a table which folds into a shallow recess in the floor when not in use whereupon the table top forms part of the floor surface.

Another object is to provide a folding table in which novel supporting elements for the table top with respect to the recess in the floor are comparatively simple yet rugged in construction so as to provide a rigidly mounted table when in positioin for use.

Still another object is to provide a table that is particuiarly suitable for a convertible dinette installation in boats or yachts and the like, the table when folded occupying floor space between opposite facing seats and when elevated to a position for use assuming the correct relationship to the seats for such use.

A further object is to provide a folding table in which the mechanism connecting the table to the recess in the floor is of such character that it automatically unfolds by the mere act of lifting the table top and then letting it settle down again, and wherein the table may be returned to the floor recess by merely lifting it some distance and then letting it down to the floor surface without the necessity of having to actuate any latches or the like to hold the table in elevated position or to release it when it is desirable to fold it into the floor.

More particularly it is an object of my invention to provide a folding type of supporting mechanism for the table top comprising a main brace and a secondary brace, the secondary brace comprising a central section and two link sections pivoted in relation to each other and in relation to a recess in a fioor surface so that the table top may be positioned in the recess thus serving as a section of the floor, or above the recess to serve as a table whereupon the main and secondary braces assume a supporting position capable of supporting the table top rigidly in its elevated position.

An additional object is to provide a folding type of supporting mechanism for a table top which comprises a main brace and a three part secondary brace wherein a central portion of the secondary brace is pivoted to the main brace for fiip over operation in such manner that it stabilizes the bracing and eliminates the necessity of any holding latches or the like.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my folding table, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in detail on the accompanying drawing, where- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my folding table in folded position to form part of a floor in a yacht or the like between dinette seats thereof, the table being shown in dotted lines for use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a side elevation of the table in folded position.

FIG. 3 is a similar vertical sectional view on the line 33 of PK 1 showing the table in raised position, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the folding supporting means for the table top.

On the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate a floor surface in a yacht or the like and 12 a pair of dinette seats. A table top 14 is illustrated in FIG. 1 which as shown by solid lines is in position flush with the floor 10 to form in effect a section thereof. The table top 14, however, may be elevated to the dotted position indicated 14a, and the supporting means for the table in this position constitutes the invention herein disclosed.

Such supporting means comprises in general a main brace 16 and a secondary brace comprising a center section 18 and upper and lower link sections 28 land 22 respectively. The brace 16 is of substantial width as shown in FIG. 4 and is provided with hinges 24 and 26 at its upper and lower ends, the upper hinge 24 being connected to the table top 14 and the lower hinge 26 being connected to a floor member 28 as shown in FIG. 3.

The upper link 20 is a U-shaped rod having pivot ends 36 and :a cross member 34 as shown in FIG. 4, and likewise the lower link 22 has pivot ends 33 and a cross rod 42. The center section 18 of the secondary brace is made in two laterally spaced-apart sections as shown in FIG. 4 t0 straddle the main brace 16 and is pivoted thereto by a rod 36. The ends \of the members 1-8 are connected together by sheet metal stnaps 44 and 46 which serve as means to hold the cross rods 34 and 42 in notches 48 and 5'8 of the members 18 and also act as stops against the main brace 16 when the table is in position for use as shown in FIG. 3.

The center of thetable top 14- may be provided with a ring 52 pivoted in a recess so that it can be lifted and used (by inserting a finger) for pulling the table up as to the dot-and-dash line position shown at 1411 in FIG. 1 and the solid line position shown in FIG. 3.

The door members 2-8 form a recess 29 to receive the main and secondary braces 16 and 18-2 i22 as in FIG. 2 with the table top 14 resting on shoulders 64 thereof. When it is desirable to elevate the table to the position 14a shown in FIG. 1, the ring 52 is pivoted to a position of access and the ring is used to lift the table top as indicated by the arrow 54 in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, the lifting procedure is first past the normal position of use (see arrow 56 and dot-and-dash line position 1412) and then back to the solid line position in accordance with the arrow 58. This extends the three elements 16, 1a; 7

and 29' of the secondary brace to an aligned position as shown by dot-and-d'ash lines, and as soon as the table is at the highest position it is let down again which results in momentum throwing the central section 18 over-center on its pivot 36 as indicated by the arrows '68 and 62 in FIG. 3 and rotation to the position shown by solid lines with the stop strap 46 against the underside of the brace 1-6 and the stop strap 44' against the topside thereof. During the flip-over operation just described the ends of the section 13 travel through arcs of slightly less than The table top is now stably supported without the necessity of latching it in the elevated position. Even when bumped underneath it will not accidently fold up unless elevated to the position 14b which is highly unlikely.

To turn the table to lowered position it is first moved to the dot-and-dash line position so that the members 18 can flip over in the opposite direction and then lowered into the recess 4%. At that time the stop strap 44 will be to the left of the pivot 36 and the stop strap 4.6 to the right thereof as shown in FIG. 2, the flip-over operation occurring in the reverse direction with respect to the arrows 6i and 62. In the folded position the cross rod 34 enters a notch 48 of the brace 16 and the cross-rod 4'2 enters a notch 50 thereof to permit complete collapse into the shallow recess 29 afforded for receiving the folding support for the table top. The notches i8 and are shaped to also receive the stop straps 44 and 46 respectively.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have provided a comparatively simple folding mechanism for a table which is readily operable by the mere raising and slight lowering of the table to elevate the table to a position for use, and similarly by a slight raising action and then lowering to the floor for collapsing the table to a position wherein the table top is flush with the floor. Due to momentum of the members 18 during the raising and lowering operation they pass over center without requiring manual operation for this purpose which simplifies the opening and folding operations and eliminates the need for latches and their operation.

While I have shown my folding table in conjunction with dinette seats of a yacht or the like, obviously it may be associated with a base frame that takes the place of the floor iii-28 and serves as a means to pivot the lower ends of the members 16 and 22 at a predetermined distance from each other. The folding mechanism disclosed may also be used in conjunction with an ironing board, drafting table or the like where it is desirable to provide a folding support for a table top or similar element.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my folding table without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents such as the variations referred to in the preceding paragraph and which may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding table of the character disclosed, a table top and supporting means therefor, said supporting means comprising a main brace having its upper end pivoted to the table top adjacent one end thereof and extending downwardly and toward the other end thereof, a secondary brace having its upper end pivoted to the table top adjacent said other end thereof and extending downwardly toward said one end thereof, and means tying the lower ends of said braces together, said lower ends being pivoted to said means, said main brace being of substantial width and said secondary brace comprising a central section and upper and lower link sections pivoted to said central section adjacent the outer ends thereof, said central section being pivoted intermediate its ends to the intermediate portion of said main brace, and means at each end of said central section limiting the pivotal movement thereof relative to said main brace, said means at one end engaging the bottom and at the other end engaging the top of said main brace when the table top is positioned for use and being reversible through slightly less than 180 to collapse said supporting means to a position with said table top, said main brace, said central section and said link sections closely adjacent and substantially parallel to each other.

2. Ina floding table of the character disclosed, a table top and supporting means therefor, said supporting means comprising a main brace having its upper end pivoted to the table top adjacent one end thereof and extending downwardly and toward the other end thereof, a secondary brace having its upper end pivoted to the table top adjacent said other end thereof and extending downwardly toward said one end thereof, and means tying the lower ends of said braces together, said lower ends being pivoted to said means, said main brace being of substantial width and said secondary brace comprising a two-part central section straddling said main brace, an upper link section and a lower link section pivoted to said central section adjacent the outer ends thereof, said central section being pivoted intermediate its ends to the intermediate portion or" said main brace.

3. A folding table comprising a table top and supporting means therefor, said supporting means comprising a main brace having its upper end pivoted to the table top adjacent one end thereof and extending downwardly and toward the other end thereof, a secondary brace having its upper end pivoted to the table top adjacent said other end thereof and extending downwardly toward said one end thereof, said lower ends being pivoted by means of pivots which are spaced apart a fixed distance, said main brace being of substantial width and said secondary brace comprising a central section and upper and lower link sections pivoted to said central section adjacent the outer ends thereof, said central section straddling said main brace and being pivoted intermediate its ends to the intermediate portion thereof, and means at each end of said central section limiting the pivotal movement thereof relative to said main brace.

4. A folding table comprising a table top and supportirig means therefor, said supporting means comprising a main brace having its upper end pivoted to the table top adjacent one end thereof and extending downwardly and toward the other end thereof, a secondary brace having its upper end pivoted to the table top adjacent said other end thereof and extending downwardly toward said one end thereof, said lower ends being pivoted by means of pivots which are spaced apart a fixed distance, said main brace being of substantial width and said secondary brace comprising a central section and upper and lower link sections pivoted to said central section adjacent the outer ends thereof, said central section straddling said main brace and being pivoted intermediate its ends to the' intermediate portion thereof, and means at each end of said central section limiting the pivotal movement thereof relative to said main brace, said supporting means being collapsible to a position with said table top, said main brace, said central section and said link sections closely 7 adjacent and substantially parallel to each other and thereby having relative little thickness.

5. A folding table comprising a floor having a shallow recess therein, a table top, a main brace having an upper end pivoted to one end of said table top and its other end pivoted in one end of said recess, a secondary brace having its upper end pivoted to the other end of the table and its lower end pivoted in said recess. at the other end thereof, said secondary brace comprising a pair of members on opposite sides of said main brace and cenftrally pivoted thereto and a pair of Ushaped links, the outer ends of which having pivotal connections to the table top and recess with the cross members thereof pivoted through the ends of said central members.

6. A folding table comprising a floor having a shallow recess therein, a table top, a main brace having an upper end pivoted to one end of said table top and its other end pivoted in one end of said recess, a secondary brace having its upper end pivoted to the other end of the table and its lower end pivoted in said recess at the other end thereof, said secondary brace comprising a pair of members on opposite sides of said main brace and centrally pivoted thereto and a pair of U-shaped links, the outer ends of which having pivotal connections to the table top and recess with the cross members thereof pivoted through the ends of said central members, and stop plates connecting the ends of said central members together and serving as stops against said main brace in the open pivotal connections to the table top and recess and the position of the table. inner ends of which are pivoted to the ends of said cen 7. In a folding table, a floor having a shallow recess tral member.

therein, a table top, a main brace having an upper end pivoted to one end of said table and a lower end pivoted 5 Cited in the file Of this Patent in one end of said recess, a secondary brace having its UNITED STATES PATENTS upper end pivoted to the other end of the table top and its lower end pivoted in said recess at the other end 928726 Wltthaus July 1909 thereof, said braces in extended position crossing each FOREIGN PATENTS other in generally X form, said secondary brace com- 10 prising a central member centrally pivoted to said rnain 15,285 Great Bntam 1907 brace and a pair of links the outer ends of which having 310651 Great Britain May 1929 

1. IN A FOLDING TABLE OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED, A TABLE TOP AND SUPPORTING MEANS THEREFOR, SAID SUPPORTING MEANS COMPRISING A MAIN BRACE HAVING ITS UPPER END PIVOTED TO THE TABLE TOP ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND TOWARD THE OTHER END THEREOF, A SECONDARY BRACE HAVING ITS UPPER END PIVOTED TO THE TABLE TOP ADJACENT SAID OTHER END THEREOF AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY TOWARD SAID ONE END THEREOF, AND MEANS TYING THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID BRACES TOGETHER, SAID LOWER ENDS BEING PIVOTED TO SAID MEANS, SAID MAIN BRACE BEING OF SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH AND SAID SECONDARY BRACE COMPRISING A CENTRAL SECTION AND UPPER AND LOWER LINK SECTIONS PIVOTED TO SAID CENTRAL SECTION ADJACENT THE OUTER ENDS THEREOF, SAID CENTRAL SECTION BEING PIVOTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS TO THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID MAIN BRACE, AND MEANS AT EACH END OF SAID 